Gracie Brothers pay visit to Fort Eustis dojo

Rener and Ralek Gracie demonstrate a Gracie Jiu-Jitsu technique during a combatives demonstration at the Fort Eustis Army Combatives Dojo May 20. The Gracies were invited by the 7th Sustainment Brigade to conduct Modern Army Combatives Instructor training for unit-level Modern Army Combatives Program instructors May 20 and 21 and a self-defense class for women and children May 21. In 1994, the U.S. Army asked Rorion Gracie - father of Ralek and Rener - to help the Army develop an intensive training course to prepare Soldiers for hand-to-hand combat. After carefully studying the Army's needs, Gracie identified 36 of the most commonly used Jiu-Jitsu techniques and developed a program from which the MACP was built.

Ralek Gracie captures brother Rener in a headlock during a combatives demonstration at the Fort Eustis Army Combatives Dojo at Fort Eustis May 20. The Gracies were invited by the 7th Sustainment Brigade to conduct Modern Army Combatives Instructor training for unit-level Modern Army Combatives Program instructors May 20 and 21, and a self-defense class for women and children May 21. The Gracies provide training to military bases and police departments throughout the United States. The Modern Army Combatives Program, based on Gracie Jiu Jitsu, is considered to be one of the building blocks for today's Soldier.

Rener Gracie tests a participant's escape technique during a Women and Children's Self-defense Class at the dojo May 21. The class, attended by nine women, one teen and two children, included techniques for escaping holds of would-be attackers and kidnappers and other means of protection.